UN helps Mauritius, Seychelles tackle rising chemical fertilizer costs-Xinhua

UN helps Mauritius, Seychelles tackle rising chemical fertilizer costs

Source: Xinhua

Editor: huaxia

2022-08-06 04:18:15

UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- A UN team for Mauritius and Seychelles is helping their authorities tackle rising chemical fertilizer costs, a UN spokesman said on Friday.

"We are helping with import substitution strategies that help the environment as well as local producers, including women," said Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. "This is urgent for both countries, which are currently 100 percent dependent on imported chemical fertilizers."

The Food and Agriculture Organization, the UN Development Programme and UN Women are ready to use seaweed for the local production of bio-fertilizers in Mauritius, Dujarric said. "This project builds on a similar seaweed fertilizer production practice carried out in the Seychelles, bolstering aquaculture and hydroponics, also with the support of the United Nations team."

Resident Coordinator Christine Umutoni leads the UN team, he said.